Carry bag

ABSTRACT

A carry bag that is particularly suitable for events, such as concerts and sporting events. The carry bag includes a body defining an internal volume for containing objects and at least handle, shoulder strap or belt for carrying the carry bag at a designated position on a wearer. The body is formed by one or more opaque panels and at least one transparent inspection panel enabling visual inspection of the internal volume from externally of the carry bag. Additionally, the inspection panel is located such that it is concealed during carrying of the bag.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to carry bags for personal items, including, but not limited to, back packs, handbags, satchel bags and shoulder bags.

BACKGROUND

Event organisers and venue operators have limits on the types of personal effects that patrons can bring into an event or venue. For example, venue operators typically have ban on glass containers, such as beer bottles, because intoxicated patrons may throw them into a crowd so that other patrons are injured. Intoxicated patrons may become violent and, therefore, it is important that dangerous weapons are not readily accessible, such as a broken glass bottles, guns and knives. This risk is addressed by event organisers and venue operators employing security firms to search bags of patrons and permitting access to patrons that are cleared of carrying such items.

Additionally, event organisers often have exclusive arrangements with services providers for merchandise, food and drinks. Accordingly, the event organiser wants to prevent counterfeit merchandise being brought into the event and sold and wants patrons to purchase food and drink from the service providers.

It is important, therefore, for the carry bags brought by patrons of an event or venue to be searched prior to entry being granted. While some patrons respect bans on certain objects being brought into an event or venue, others may not. It is for this reason that bag inspections are imperative for the safety and security of patrons and for minimising the ingress of counterfeit merchandise and of food and drink. Bag inspections may be quite brief or may be quite onerous depending on the conditions for allowing patrons entry to an event or venue with a carry bag. In some cases, the queues for bag inspections are lengthy because the security personnel must properly inspect each carry bag. In such cases, rushing the inspections will increase the risk that banned objects are inadvertently allowed or smuggled into the event or venue.

There is a need, therefore, to improve the speed and effectiveness of bag inspections.

It will be appreciated that this need extends to other circumstances where bag inspections are carried out, such as at airports and train and bus stations (e.g. underground metro stations).

The above references to the background art do not constitute an admission that the art forms a part of the common general knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The above references are also not intended to limit the application of the apparatus and method as disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In attempting to find a balance between privacy and improving the effectiveness of bag searches, the applicant realised that concealed inspection panels on bags would reduce queue times and would assist security personnel to perform a more thorough bag inspection.

Therefore, the invention provides a carry bag including a body defining an internal volume for containing objects, at least one fitting member for carrying the carry bag at a designated position on a wearer and wherein the body is formed by one or more opaque panels and at least one transparent inspection panel enabling visual inspection of the internal volume from externally of the carry bag and wherein the inspection panel is located such that it is concealed during carrying of the bag.

The applicant's approach involves two key aspects. The first is improved visual access to the carry bag via the inspection panel. It is anticipated that this will reduce the likelihood that security personnel need bags to be opened for inspection and reduce or eliminate the need for objects to be removed from the bags so that the entire contents can be determined. For example, clothing items often need to be removed to reveal other objects at the bottom of a bag. The inspection panel can avoid that the need to remove the closes because the objects at the bottom of the bag will be visible through the inspection panel.

The second aspect is the concealment of the inspection panel to provide privacy outside of the times that a bag inspection is carried out. The manner of concealment is important because it affects the how swiftly the bag can be ready for inspection. In this regard, the applicant locates the inspection panel so that is concealed when the bag is being carried. This, as explained below, can be achieved in a number of ways. However, the concealment allows the inspection panel to be effective because it is anticipated that the concealment will attract event patrons to the practical benefits of carry bags with inspection panels.

The fitting member may be one or more shoulder straps, a handle or a belt. Accordingly, the fitting member enables the carry bag to be carried by a user at the designated position, namely the back of the wearer for shoulder straps, the waist of the wearer for the belt or at the wearer's side in the case of a handle.

In a first embodiment, the inspection panel is located such that the inspection panel is in contact with the user during carrying of the bag, whereby the inspection panel is concealed and is revealed when the carry bag is removed by the user.

In one aspect of the first embodiment, the carry bag is a backpack and the inspection panel is at least a portion of a back-contacting section of the body. The inspection panel may extend from the top to the bottom of the carry bag

In another aspect of the first embodiment, the inspection panel is the entirety of a back-contacting section of the body.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the inspection panel may extend about sides of the carry bag. In this aspect, the inspection panel may comprise a unitary panel that comprises the back-contacting section of the body and at least part of the sides of the body. Alternatively, the carry bag may include more than one inspection panel.

In a second embodiment, the inspection panel is concealed by a displaceable panel and wherein displacement of the displaceable panel reveals the inspection panel to enable visual inspection of the internal volume.

In one aspect of the second embodiment, the carry bag is a backpack and the inspection panel is at least a portion of a rear portion of the body opposite to a back-contacting section of the body. Optionally, the displaceable panel comprises a flap that is fixed at or near the top of the body and is dimensioned to cover the inspection panel. The displaceable carry bag may include means for securing the displaceable panel over the inspection panel so that the inspection panel remains concealed and wherein the securing means is selectively releasable to enable the inspection panel to be revealed when desired.

The securing means may be a mechanical fastener, hook and loop fastener, magnetic fastener or friction-fit fastener.

Another option for this aspect involves the displaceable panel being dimensioned substantially the same as the dimensions of the inspection panel and wherein the displaceable panel is releasably secured over the inspection panel. The displaceable panel may be secured over the inspection panel by a zip which traces at least part of the perimeter of the displaceable panel.

In the first and second embodiments, the inspection panel may be transparent and waterproof. It may comprise plastics material, for example, PVC. The opaque panels of the body may comprise canvas, leather or synthetic fabric.

In the first and second embodiments, the carry bag may include mesh internal pockets such that the contents of the internal pocket are inspectable via the inspection panel. Optionally, the internal pockets are located on the body opposite to the inspection panel.

The carry bag, according to the first and second embodiments, may include one or more mesh external pockets to enable visual inspection of the contents of the external pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the apparatus and method as set forth in the Summary, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 are front, rear, side and open rear views respectively of a backpack according to the first embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are front, rear and top view respectively of a bum-bag according to the first embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are front, rear and side views respectively of another back pack according to the first embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are front, rear and side views respectively of another back pack according to the first embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are front, open front, side and rear views respectively of a shoulder bag according to the second embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 18 to 21 are front, open front, rear and side views respectively of a hand bag according to the second embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 22 to 24 are rear, open rear and front views respectively of a backpack according to the second embodiment of the carry bag.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are rear and front views respectively of a backpack according to the first embodiment of the carry bag.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of various carry bags are described below. However, each of the bags includes a body defining an internal volume for containing objects, at least one fitting, such as shoulder strap, handle or belt, for a user to carry the carrier bag. The body in each of the bags is formed by one or more opaque panels and at least one transparent inspection panel, in the form of the view panel 20, that enables visual inspection of the internal volume from externally of the bag. The view panel 20 is located, in each of the bags, such that it is concealed during carrying of the bag.

Having regard to FIGS. 1 to 4, a backpack 10 is shown having a fitting in the form of a handle 12 and shoulder straps 14. The body of the backpack 10 is formed by floor panel 16 which is connected with a horse shoe-shaped side panel 18 and a rear panel 22, all of which are opaque. The rear panel 22 is joined with the floor panel 16 in a permanent join and is releasably connected to a rear side of the side panel 18 by a zipper 24. The zipper can be used to close the internal volume of the backpack, as shown in FIG. 2, or can be used to separate a section of the rear panel 22 from the side panel 18, as shown in FIG. 4 to enable access to the internal volume of the backpack 10.

The interior side of the rear panel 22 is fitted with two mesh pockets that are located above the floor panel of the backpack 10.

The front side of the backpack 10 is formed by a view panel 20 that is permanently fixed to the floor panel and along the front side of the side panel 18 except for a small portion at the top of the bag which comprises a reinforcement panel 30 for distributing weight formed through the shoulder straps 14 or the handle 12 into the side panel 18.

The shoulder straps 14 extend from a seam adjoining the reinforcement panel with the side panel 18, across the view panel 20 and terminate at the seam adjoining the view panel 20 and the floor panel 16. Accordingly, the view panel 20 forms a back-contacting portion of the backpack 10. In other words, the view panel 20, when the backpack 10 is carried by a wearer with the shoulder straps 14 secured over the wearer's shoulders, the view panel 20 is in contact with the wearer's back and, therefore, is concealed.

The advantage of this arrangement is that, while the view panel 20 provides an inspection window to the entire internal volume of the backpack 10, the view panel 20 is concealed while the backpack 10 is being worn so that the contents of the backpack 10 are not on public display. However, in the event that the backpack 10 needs to be inspected, such as to obtain entry to an event or a venue, simply removing the backpack from the wearer so as to reveal the view panel 20 is a fast and effective way of providing security personnel with visual access to the entire contents of the backpack 10. Furthermore, this avoids the need to remove any objects from the backpack to enable smaller and heavier items (which typically fall to the bottom of a carrier bag) to be inspected without removing items sitting above them in the backpack 10. It is anticipated that this configuration of the backpack 10 will make bag inspections faster and more effective.

A similar backpack design is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 in respect of the backpack 34. Like reference numerals are used in FIGS. 8 to 10 to denote like features disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 4 and described above. The backpack 34 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 differs from the backpack 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in that the side panel 18 and the zipper 24 are truncated so that the rear panel 22 extends about the lower sides of the backpack 34 to join the view panel 20 along a common seam.

While the body shape of the backpack 34 is different to the body shape of the backpack 10, the functionality of the backpack 34 remains the same in that the view panel 20 comprises a back-contacting portion of the backpack so that it is concealed from view when the backpack is fitted to a wearer via the shoulder straps 14.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show an alternative backpack 36 is shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 having a generally triangular shape and a single shoulder strap 14. The features that the backpack 36 has in common with the features of the backpack 10 are denoted with like reference numerals. However, the most significant difference between the backpack 36 and the backpack 10 is that the backpack 36 has a contoured rear panel 22 that extends upwardly from the floor panel 16 and converges as it wraps around a side of the backpack to terminate at an edge of the view panel 20. In this manner, the backpack 36 has two separate side panels 18, but it retains the same single view panel 20 as a back-contacting portion of the backpack and which is concealed from public view when the backpack 36 is fitted to a wearer.

Accordingly, the backpack 36 has all the same advantages and functionality of the backpack 10 in terms of facilitating visual inspection of the internal volume. Without having to open the backpack 36 via the rear panel 22.

A further alternative form of backpack is shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 in the form of a drawstring bag 46 like features of the drawstring back 46 with reference to the backpack 10 are denoted by like reference numerals.

The drawstring bag 46 differs from the backpack 10 by having a rear panel 22 extending from the top to the bottom of the drawstring bag 46 and the remainder of the body of the drawstring bag 46 comprising the view panel 20. Essentially, the drawstring bag 46 is formed by the view panel 20 and the rear panel 22 to form a two-sided bag closed along its base and open along its top. The rim of the bag at the top comprises a fabric channel 48, through which a drawstring 50 is located such that pulling on the drawstring closes the open top by gathering the view panel 20 and rear panel 22 into a bunch. The shoulder straps 14 comprise string loops extending from the top of the bag to a bottom corner of the drawstring bag 46 along respective sides of the bag. As with the backpack 10, the drawstring bag 46 enables ready visual inspection of the contents of the bag.

The width of the rear panel is selected so that the inspection panel 20 is concealed when the drawstring 50 is drawn to close the bag 46. Accordingly, the bunching of the bag 46 reduces the extent to which the inspection panel 20 is visible when the drawstring bag is fitted to a wearer. In other words, the inspection panel is concealed by being placed into contact with the wearer when the drawstring 50 is drawn. It follows that inspection of the drawstring bag is similar to inspection of the backpack 10 in that the bag contents are easily inspect when the drawstring bag 50 is removed by the wearer.

Consistent with the embodiment of the backpack 10, backpack 34 and backpack 36 an alternative carrier bag is a bum-bag as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. Specifically, referring to FIG. 6, the bum-bag 52 comprises a rear panel 22 which is divided into an upper lid portion and a lower pouch portion by a zipper 24. Wings, either side of the rear panel 22 comprise reinforcement panels 30 for transferring any load from the waist-encompassing belt 54 to the body of the bum bag 52. A front side of the bum-bag 52 comprises the view panel 20 which joins the rear panel 22 along a common seam.

As with the backpacks 10, 34 and 36, the entire contents of the bum bag 52 are available for visual inspection when the bum-bag 52 is removed from the wearer and is concealed when the bum-bag 52 is fitted to a wearer. Accordingly, all the same functional advantages are attributable to the bum-bag 52 as are present in the backpacks 10, 34 and 36.

An alternative embodiment of the carrier bag is shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 which comprise a shoulder bag 40. The shoulder bag 40 has features that are comparable to the features of the backpack 10 and, accordingly, like reference numerals are used to denote those like features.

More specifically, the shoulder bag has a rear panel 22 that is bound on lateral and lower sides by a U-shaped side panel 18, the internal volume of the shoulder bag 40 is closed by a front panel 21 which incorporates a view panel 20. The shoulder bag 40 further includes a flap 43 that extends from the rear panel 22, across the open top of the body and downwardly over the front panel 21 to cover at least the view panel 20. The front panel 21 and the flap 43 include co-operable fasteners 60 to secure the flap onto the front panel thereby concealing the view panel 21.

The view panel 20 provides almost full visual access to the internal volume of the shoulder bag 40 so that the contents of the bag can be visually inspected. Additionally, the interior side of the rear panel 22 includes a pair of mesh internal pockets 28 opposite the view panel 20 so that the contents of the internal pockets 28 can be inspected via the view panel 20.

FIGS. 18 to 21 show a handbag 42 with a similar form to the shoulder bag 40. Like features are, therefore, denoted by like reference numerals.

Given the form of the shoulder bag 40 and the handbag 42, it will be appreciated that both bags 40 and 42 have the same functional advantages as the backpack 10 in terms of enabling visual inspection of the contents. It will also be appreciated that the view panel in each bag is concealed from public display when the bag is carried by a user.

An alternative bag that is based on the same concept as the shoulder bag 40 and the handbag 42 is shown in FIGS. 22 to 24 as a backpack 45. It will be appreciated, however, that all although the backpack 45 includes a floor panel 16, front and rear panels 21 and 22 and a side panel 18 extending between the front and rear panels 21, 22, contrary to the backpack 10, the rear panel 22 comprises the inspection panel 20 and the front panel 20, side panel 18 and floor panel 16 are formed of an opaque material. As with the inspection panel of other carry bags described above, the inspection panel 20 is formed of a transparent material to enable visual inspection of the contents of the backpack 45.

The backpack 45 further includes a flap 43 which is fixed at the top of the backpack along a seam joining the side panel 18 and the front panel 21 and which extends over the side panel 18 and downwardly over the inspection panel 20 to conceal the inspection panel 20. As with the shoulder bag 40, the flap 43 includes fasteners 60 that are co-operable with fasteners 60 at the base of the inspection panel 20 for securing the flap 43 over the inspection panel 20. In use, the contents of the backpack 45 are made available for visual inspection by releasing the fasteners 60 so that the flap 43 can be lifted to reveal the inspection panel 20. Once the inspection is completed, the flap 43 is re-positioned to cover the inspection panel 20 and the fasteners 60 are engaged to secure the flap 43 in position with the inspection panel 20 concealed.

The fasteners 43 may be mechanical fasteners, such as interlocking clips with one portion of the clip on the flap and the other portion of the clip at the base of the inspection panel. Alternatively, the co-operable fasteners may be magnetic, hook and loop or friction fit fasteners.

In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the apparatus and method as disclosed herein.

Many modifications may be made to the embodiments of the present invention as described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, the backpack 45 may be formed with a transparent side panel 18 extending up the sides and across the top of the backpack 45 to facilitate visual inspect of the internal volume. In this modification, the flap 43 is shaped to extend over the inspection panel 20 and the transparent side panel 18 and is fitted with suitable fasteners to retain the flap 43 in position to conceal the inspection panel 20 and the transparent side panel 18.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of the invention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

Furthermore, invention(s) have been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention(s). Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, for example, aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. 

1. A carry bag including a body defining an internal volume for containing objects, at least one fitting member for carrying the carry bag at a designated position on a wearer and wherein the body is formed by one or more opaque panels and at least one transparent inspection panel enabling visual inspection of the internal volume from externally of the carry bag and wherein the inspection panel is located such that it is concealed during carrying of the bag.
 2. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the fitting member is one or more shoulder straps, a handle or a belt.
 3. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the inspection panel is located such that the inspection panel is in contact with the user during carrying of the bag, whereby the inspection panel is concealed, and is revealed when the carry bag is removed by the user.
 4. The carry bag defined in claim 3, wherein the carry bag is a backpack and the inspection panel is at least a portion of a back-contacting section of the body.
 5. The carry bag defined in claim 4, wherein the inspection panel extends from the top to the bottom of the carry bag
 6. The carry bag defined in claim 4, wherein the inspection panel is the entirety of a back-contacting section of the body.
 7. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the inspection panel extends about sides of the carry bag.
 8. The carry bag defined in claim 7, wherein the inspection panel comprises a unitary panel that comprises the back-contacting section of the body and at least part of the sides of the body.
 9. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the carry bag includes at least one further inspection panel.
 10. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the inspection panel is concealed by a displaceable panel and wherein displacement of the displaceable panel reveals the inspection panel to enable visual inspection of the internal volume.
 11. The carry bag defined in claim 10, wherein the carry bag is a backpack and the inspection panel is at least a portion of a rear portion of the body opposite to a back-contacting section of the body.
 12. The carry bag defined in claim 10, wherein the displaceable panel comprises a flap that is fixed at or near the top of the body and is dimensioned to cover the inspection panel.
 13. The carry bag defined in claim 10, wherein the displaceable carry bag includes means for securing the displaceable panel over the inspection panel so that the inspection panel remains concealed and wherein the securing means is selectively releasable to enable the inspection panel to be revealed when desired.
 14. The carry bag defined in claim 13, wherein the securing means is a mechanical fastener, hook and loop fastener, magnetic fastener or friction-fit fastener.
 15. The carry bag defined in claim 10, wherein the displaceable panel has dimensioned substantially the same dimensions as the inspection panel and wherein the displaceable panel is releasably secured over the inspection panel.
 16. The carry bag defined in claim 15, wherein the displaceable panel is secured over the inspection panel by a zip which traces at least part of the perimeter of the displaceable panel.
 17. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the inspection panel is transparent and waterproof
 18. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein, the carry bag includes mesh internal pockets such that the contents of the internal pocket are inspectable via the inspection panel.
 19. The carry bag defined in claim 18, wherein the internal pockets are located on the body opposite to the inspection panel.
 20. The carry bag defined in claim 1, wherein the carry bag includes one or more mesh external pockets to enable visual inspection of the contents of the external pockets. 